‘One set of accounts suggests that the story first surfaced in Germany in the 1930s.’

1.5informal The first occurrence of something notable.

‘we travelled by air, a first for both of us’

‘Less well known has been his quiet role as vice chairman of Space Adventures, which includes some notable firsts.’

‘Bradford has scored a couple of notable firsts, thanks to the efforts of the Bradford Metropolitan Recreation Department, by launching two projects to keep the citizens of Bradford slim and trim.’

‘York City's 4-1 FA Cup triumph over Radcliffe Borough last Sunday marked a number of notable firsts for the Minstermen.’

‘Miss Hall, of Allsprings Drive, Great Harwood, has also achieved several other notable firsts, including becoming the first female member of Accrington Rotary Club.’

‘Zacharias Kunuk has been experiencing a lot of firsts lately.’

‘But for me personally it was an experience of many firsts, beyond nature.’

‘A few other firsts that occurred that night; Hogan lost cleanly for the first time in about eight years.’

‘When I was with him, I experienced a lot of firsts actually.’

‘Jeff was the man that had experienced all her firsts with her.’

‘On the way over to Hawaii, we experienced so many firsts that we lost count.’

‘Last Monday's Hall of Game was a night of firsts for the Texans, with one notable exception: they failed to pick up their first win.’

‘Early on, Canadian fighter pilots logged a number of firsts in air combat.’

‘A hallmark in the history of film-making, the movie had more than one firsts to its credits, what with Lucas dividing his story into three trilogies and deciding to make the second one first as he found it more interesting.’

‘This will be many firsts - our first trip with our son, Zack's first flight, his first time seeing mountains, and the longest period of time he has been away from home and hearth.’

‘Space missions have always been big TV moments, be they historic firsts, like the moon landing in 1969…’

novelty, new experience, first experience, first occurrence, unusual event

‘He's also timed it so that he's going out as the first finishers in the race are coming in.’

‘The three disciplines are run back-to-back and the winner is the first athlete to finish.’

‘It was so refreshing to hear Latka explain how he had raced from 28th to first and won.’

‘In fleet racing, the dominant type at the Olympics, the first to cross the line wins the race.’

‘Schoeman ranked first in the world last year in the 50 meter long course.’

‘Then there's Tom Wilkens, ranked first in the world in '98 in the 200.’

2.5Music Performing the highest or chief of two or more parts for the same instrument or voice.

‘the first violins’

‘I looked up at one point in the middle of the second act, to see something strange going on in the first violins.’

‘Gradually a permanent nucleus was formed comprising the essential elements of an Orchestra - firsts and seconds, alto, tenor and bass parts, guitar, bayan, piano and percussion.’

2.6in titlesHaving precedence over all others of a similar kind.

‘First Lord of the Admiralty’

2.7British A place in the top grade in an examination, especially that for a degree.

‘chaps with firsts from Oxbridge’

2.8British A person who has received the top grade in an examination for a degree.

2.9the firstsThe best or main team of a sports club.

‘he was asked to play for the firsts’

‘David Duxbury's side was cheered on by a good crowd which included most of the firsts from both clubs.’

‘Next up is a trip to Emley Moor for the firsts while the second team entertain Dudley Hill Eagles at home.’

‘It was the firsts that were so inspiring to watch, after all; that was where the future representatives of our country would be playing and it was something we could always strive to achieve; to play for our school first team.’

‘I never intended to play on for the firsts, I didn't want to keep coming back, but at the start of the season there was a shortage of props.’

‘Captain Jez Petch returns from holiday, Lee McTigue should be available after missing the last two weeks through work and Mick Storey is elevated to the firsts from last week's ‘A’ team.’

‘He was scoring 100s for the firsts at age 15 and his ability then was beyond his years.’

‘Saracens, with a week off from Merit Table games, arranged a pool fixture with Yarnbury firsts and produced a workmanlike performance in difficult conditions to run out comfortable winners.’

‘No matter what level I've played at coaches have always picked me on the firsts.’

‘The match against RMC loomed as a danger game for the firsts, with the Cadets an unknown quantity and likely to be at full strength.’

2.10firstsGoods of the best quality.

‘factory firsts, seconds, and discontinued styles’

3With a specified part or person in a leading position.

‘the car plunged nose first into the river’

‘As soon as I said that a dark figure crashed into the window and fell head first on the floor.’

‘Down she fell head first onto the floor.’

‘He opened the door to be greeted by Diana falling head first to the ground.’

‘He was swept off his feet, and landed face first into the dirt.’

‘She stumbled and tripped, and landed face first on the ground.’

‘She got about four steps away when she tripped over her leg rope and fell face first into a puddle.’

Phrases

first come, first served

Used to indicate that people will be dealt with strictly in the order in which they arrive or apply.

‘tickets are available on a first come, first served basis’

‘Season ticket holders who wish to sit in this stand must first get a free transfer ticket from the ticket office at least two days before the game and it is strictly first come, first served.’

‘Postcards can't be reserved or paid for in advance, they are allocated on a strictly first come, first served basis on the sale days only.’

‘And how are the lists ordered: on the basis of first come, first served?’

‘All are first come, first served; arrive early on weekends.’

‘Due to the high level of interest in the course, applications will be dealt with on a first come, first served basis.’

‘The open auditions will be run on a first come, first served basis with entrants arriving at the venue by 9.00 am.’

‘The Playgroup re-opens on Monday the 5th of September at 9.30 a.m. and places are available on a first come, first served, basis.’

‘Seating for the these concerts will be limited and admission is by ticket only on the door at £5.00, first come, first served.’

‘Why can't they just leave the tickets with the professionals and let it be a case of first come, first served, the same as any other major event in the country.’

‘It's first come, first served, so please act quickly!’

at first

At the beginning; in the initial stage or stages.

‘at first Hugo tried to be patient’

‘It can be a bit daunting at first but once they get started and have a go they really enjoy it and learn quickly.’

‘He seemed a bit nervous at first but soon settled and gave his usual comic performance.’

‘You do have to be a bit of a contortionist at first to engage gear, but it is a sportsbike after all.’

‘We were a bit dubious about doing the programme at first, but we really enjoyed making it.’

‘It was difficult to get funding at first but now there is a consortium of people who have put money into it.’

‘She's the daughter of an opera singer, and at first she didn't want to go into opera.’

‘He was fine at first then complained about not feeling well and went back to bed.’

‘The guy was reluctant at first and refused to come with me, but I could tell he needed my help.’

‘He was struck by the car as he walked home from a wedding, and at first it was feared he might not survive.’

‘The driver had not wanted to take him at first because he was so drunk he had to be supported by three women.’

first offNorth American informal

As a first point; firstly.

‘first off, I owe you a heck of an apology’

‘Well, first off, we've got to talk about a couple of different things.’

‘They were dying to know what it was going to look like, first off.’

‘Well, first off, you went and bought the book which is a first step.’

‘Give us a sense, first off, where these arms are primarily coming from.’

‘I think first off, somebody of the things that they're planning should be kept secret and private.’

‘Well, first off, I think the prevailing theme here is it could have been a lot worse.’

‘Well, first off I would not recommend an over-the - counter eye drop as the preferred product.’

‘Well, first off I'm going to suggest something rather radical: people need to take responsibility for their own sexual health.’

‘Well, first off there are some pretty sophisticated statistical tricks you can do with the data to make it more reliable.’

‘Now, first off, just what makes these outlandish themes reflect reality?’

first of all

1Before doing anything else.

‘first of all, let me ask you something’

‘Her Honour Justice Branson first of all basically agrees with his Honour Justice Wilcox.’

‘I should ask first of all if he wishes to say anything in response to those submissions?’

‘What was the principal difficulty there about delay, first of all in the Sergeant's case?’

‘Right, first of all do not ask me anything about teenage pregnancy and having trouble in sexual situations.’

‘To understand this let us first of all look at the principles of Sun and Neptune separately.’

‘Well, first of all the cabin is extremely well trimmed, especially if you go for pale grey leather seats and a black carpet.’

‘We'll get to why he's in a wheelchair in a second, but, first of all, how big is this?’

‘This learning would, first of all, be a listening to God's voice in contemplative silence.’

‘Tell us, first of all, about this one picture of this safe that was knocked over.’

‘Can I just say, first of all, in all honesty, how much I respect what you've done in Lapland in previous years.’

1.1Most importantly.

‘German unity depends first of all on the German people’

‘The advancement of science depends, first of all, on the free flow of information.’

‘And the importance of history is first of all it tells you the way the world was.’

‘Really, to keep them in optimum state, it is important that they be maintained first of all.’

‘Well, first of all there are nine states that are already doing that in the United States.’

‘All I really wanted to really talk about was first of all what a relief it is to hear James talking.’

‘Well, I think, first of all, that the fact he lied about his affair is going to hurt him.’

‘With gaming, young people can get involved and, first of all, it's a culture where you can belong.’

‘I did not believe that a man my age, first of all, could fall in love like a teenager.’

‘My main goal in life, first of all, is to live every day to the fullest, no matter how long that is.’

‘Well, first of all, I never would have allowed it to get out of control the way it did.’

first and foremost

Most importantly; more than anything else.

‘he considered himself first and foremost a writer’

‘Since then he has never looked back although he does consider himself to be a Carlow man first and foremost.’

‘Like everything else Shaker, things had, first and foremost, to be practical.’

‘Cathedrals are, first and foremost, places of worship and are recognised as places of great beauty.’

‘Any preconceptions of worthiness are soon put to rest: first and foremost, this is a road movie.’

‘While she was a singer first and foremost, Tucker is loathe to choose between her two loves.’

‘We are police officers first and foremost, and that is our responsibility.’

‘I am not a great charity giver, I, like most people, need to protect my family first and foremost.’

‘Cinema is, first and foremost, the projection of a cultural identity which comes to life on the screen.’

‘It was, first and foremost, an exercise in politics rather than sound economic management.’

‘It was an act, first and foremost, of solidarity with the victims and of empathy with their families.’

first and last

Fundamentally; on the whole.

‘museums are first and last about curatorship’

‘Feminism's a socialist movement, first and last.’

‘I am, first and last and always, concerned about the welfare of people, all kinds of people.’

‘There is little point in wallowing in the brilliance of Bacon if you don't recognise him as a moralist first and last.’

‘Rosa Luxemburg roundly declared that freedom was first and last the freedom for those who thought differently.’

first thing

Early in the morning; before anything else.

‘I have to meet Josh first thing tomorrow’

‘They had the chance to do that either on Friday night or first thing in the morning before we were to set out.’

‘He gets fed first thing in the morning before I go to work and again when I get home.’

‘I know that the first thing in the morning I'll be wandering into work on my day off to find it.’

‘Harry goes for his annual jabs first thing in the morning and I shall need all my wits about me.’

‘We have street cleansing teams out from first thing in the morning until late at night.’

‘I work from home running a small business and need my post first thing in the morning.’

‘I needed a drink first thing in the morning and a bag of heroin in the afternoon.’

‘They stay the night, go to the bank with the boss first thing in the morning and help themselves.’

‘His father had left lists of producers and agents that he would call first thing in the morning.’

‘Revise when you want to revise, be it first thing in the morning or late at night.’

first things first

Important matters should be dealt with before other things.

‘I suggest we get our priorities right—first things first’

‘Let's deal with first things first, and the thing that's getting the most attention is the headline grabber.’

‘We'll talk a lot about the book and your extraordinary story, but let's first deal with first things first.’

‘A proper education enables young people to put their lives in order, which means knowing which things are more important than other things; it means putting first things first.’

‘But first things first, you have to have other goals first, just getting in there and getting game time is the first step.’

‘So, first things first, I really liked Star Wars.’

‘We'll talk a lot about the book in a little while, but first let's get to first things first, and that's the major story of the day, Andy, and what do you make of the inspectors?’

‘I believe that this is putting the horse before the cart, practicing first things first and the value-added benefit to this approach will spell returns in the short run too.’

‘So there is a lot to be done, but first things first.’

‘But first things first - he knows he'd better make good on his campaign promise and fix that village road.’

‘But first things first and that means a result in Bray on Friday.’

first past the post

1(of a contestant, especially a horse) winning a race by being the first to reach the finishing line.

‘Aliysa was first past the post in the 1989 Oaks’

‘Esha Ness, ridden by John White and trained by Jenny Pitman, was the first past the post but the race was later declared void.’

‘Local Claremorris man Finbar Donnellan also had a share in a horse that was first past the post in one of Wednesday's races.’

‘Boxed in on the final corner by his rivals, he had to pull out all the stops up Cheltenham's notoriously unforgiving hill to ensure that he was first past the post.’

‘F1 Racing were first past the post in their game at Bay Horse Tadcaster.’

‘Kieran was first past the post in the 1500 metres on the Saturday, turning in an excellent time of 5.58.’

‘Think Big won the big race twice and Let's Elope and Saintly were amongst two of his other special charges who were first past the post.’

‘Tales abound of this man who walked 10 miles in his bare feet for cystic fibrosis in 1975 and was first past the post.’

‘After two very promising performances it should be only a matter of time before Maryann The Dancer is first past the post.’

‘If he is first past the post then the victory will put a very serious dent in the profits on bookmakers operating in Ireland.’

‘It was not always the favourites that came first past the post, which all added to the excitement.’

1.1British attributiveDenoting an electoral system in which a candidate or party is selected by achievement of a simple majority.

‘our first-past-the-post electoral system’

‘Secondly, making an electoral breakthrough in a first past the post electoral system remains tough.’

‘The first past the post system always unfairly rewards the largest parties, but the results become particularly arbitrary when their share of the vote is relatively small.’

‘The first past the post system won't deliver that.’

‘We proved under the first past the post system in Preston that we can win.’

‘Britain uses the first past the post formula and the candidate receiving the most votes is elected, regardless of whether or not he has a majority of votes cast.’

‘Its genuinely difficult to figure out the Indian voter, and more importantly the first past the post system can make a few percentage difference in vote share seem like a land slide.’

‘We totally accept that no first past the post system is infallible.’

‘It returns Italy, after 12 years of flirtation with first past the post, to a proportional system.’

‘But - and it's a very big ‘but’ - under first past the post, the power of government goes to the party of the plurality, to the largest minority.’

‘These are, of course, first past the post elections, and therefore difficult for us to make a mark on.’

first up

1British First of all.

‘Can I just say first up that as far as the state of play in journalism is concerned, I actually think things aren't so bad.’

‘That means that this motion will in fact be debated first up.’

‘So first up, what kind of show is he bringing down under?’

‘They fielded well first up to dismiss the Razzle for 171.’

‘But there are some key things the most successful websites have in common - first up, they are simple, have content the people want to read and it has to be current.’

‘And when I read it first up, I thought ‘That doesn't seem real.’’

‘So first up, how long have you been working here (probably not long cos the bar's just opened)!’

‘Miriama Kamo presents the mix of local and US tales - first up, a story about US swingers, and Pete Cronshaw investigates a Coromandel property developer.’

1.1Australian, New Zealand At the first attempt.

‘A goal to midfielder Heather Garriock in the first half proved the difference as the team set about playing with a bit more flair than in their stodgy first up loss to the Brazilians.’

‘But this year both have hit the ground first up with viewers, unusual for Seven and a worry for Nine if it continues.’

‘You would not have to undergo the painful trial and error process of learning how to shave, one of your old men could show you the correct way first up.’

‘Wilson had beaten Damian Smith first up, then both David Wilson and me in cover, before George knocked the ball from his hands with that despairing late dive.’

‘Of course this countries attention was on the first up game, also known as NZ v SA.’

‘They had been beaten in the first round last year but came out strong by winning their first up match convincingly.’

‘Dalton says they have drawn Oracle first up which will be a good wake up call.’

‘A first up Saturday game against Sandringham gave the team an idea of what it was in for.’

of the first order

Excellent or considerable of its kind.

‘it is a media event of the first order’

‘However, the overall campaign was a disaster of the first order.’

‘It was a disaster of the first order, but Daun was still wary of the ever-aggressive Frederick, with reason.’

‘Sarris calls the film ‘a masterpiece of the first order.’’

‘His achievement, though easily taken for granted, was the work of an analytical mind of the first order, and he deserves much more honor than he has so far received.’

‘We have been waiting for this recording for years and now that it is here, one can safely say that it is indeed a masterpiece of the first order.’

‘Is this wickedness of the first order or rational economic behaviour?’

‘But to say that it's all going to come out fine, that always struck me as being wishful thinking of the first order.’

‘While I am a technology fanatic of the first order, I see the future of high-wage nations largely as services-driven.’